What's your office pet peeve?

[lioness70]

I was reading back through the archives (it's a REALLY slow day here).  I thought, what a great topic!  A lot of new members have joined since that post, so let's ask...what's YOUR pet peeve?



I have a few:



People who can't bother to put things they take out of the files back into the filing bins to be filed.  They stick them loose in the file.  A lot of times, when I'm filing, I wind up filing these loose things in proper date order!  I love that the admin (me) gets the blame for not doing her job (this actually happened!  I was blamed for those loose faxes/memos/whatever!)-not these highly-paid engineers who can't be bothered to put a piece of paper in a filing bin!!!



People who assume the receptionist knows every project being worked on and the whereabouts of everyone at all times-when the truth is we know very little!  People got annoyed at me when I put them on hold because they called about a project and wanted a ton of information-but they didn't know who was working on it!  People who yelled at me because I couldn't locate someone-while it turned out they were out of the office, didn't sign out, and didn't tell anyone where they were going.  Don't take your frustration out on ME!!  Also, people who start shooting off long, detailed messages and expect me to write them down for them.  I just transfer them to voice mail.  There's 80 or so people in our office...that's why we have voice mail!



AAAAAAARRRGGHHHHH.    

[radaro]

My personal favourite:



People who leave you a message and then shoot off their phone number so fast that it's a blur.  Sometimes I have to replay the message 3-4 times to figure out what they are saying.  Yes, I know you know your phone number now say it slowly so I can find out what it is!

[gertilda]

Office Politics.  Hands down.  How can you expect a company to succeed when every department is working against the others and stabbing them in the back?  It's called

C O O P E R A T I O N

and it's the lack of this that is one of the bigger reasons I'm leaving this company!

[officeduchess]

My biggest office pet peeve is when people call in to talk to someone and the someone is on the phone.  Then they ask me "how long is he/she going to be on the phone or who are they talking to?"  Am I Miss Cleo and is it any of their business??  Hello?!



OfficeDuchess in VA



 

[chris68]

One of my biggest pet peeves is people waiting to the last minute to get things done.  I know other people are buisy but ya know, take some time to at least either let that somebody know there is going to be a last minute and give enough time to get a job done and done right, thank you.



Other than that, the common curtosey of what Lioness was saying about putting things back where they came from.  If you use something that isn't yours return it.



Chris68

 

[spitfire78]

Oh, officeduchess, don't ya just love it - when they ask how long they're going to be!!  Wait, while I get out my crystal ball.



One of my pet peeves are bossies (or anyone, for that matter) who insist on talking to you WHILE YOU ARE SPEAKING TO SOMEONE ELSE ON THE PHONE!!!!  I know I have two ears, but unfortunately I can only listen and comprehend one person at a time.

[yankeestarbuck]

Hmmm, what bugs me today?  OK, let's see.  Telling the same people the same thing over and over again.



Repetition.  That bothers me.



Redundancy. Yeah, that's annoying.



Ha!  No really, I can't stand the helpless:  make my copies, file my papers, make my coffee, give me CPR, I'm having a heart attack...it never ends!



Oh, and people who refuse to work, no matter how many times you ask.  We had an employee here who would sit around and read the newspaper or novels or magazines instead of the vice president's filing.  She would screw things up, was always late or didn't bother to show up at all, sometimes, with lame excuses.  After 8 months, my boss finally got rid of her.  Hopefully, we'll get a team player who will pitch in.



Peevin' fiercely in the city - Yank

[jewels6567]

I can't stand stupid people!  Now I know some of you are thinking that there aren't really stupid people out there and we should be nicer to them but sometimes it's just ridiculous the lack of common sense people have.



I had one issue today where our Special Services Travel desk (that's used for the high-level execs) had a message on it that it was closed.  So everyone's calling me to find out what's going on and the on travel agent calls me and was like 'I've been here.  In fact the phone hasn't rung once in the past two days.'  Umm hellooooooo...anyone there???  Don't you think you should check on that since it's just a tad unusual?  



Julie

[kitchenwitch]

Definitely, Spitfire, you've got one there.  My boss also talks to me when I'm on the phone, and it drives me NUTS!  However, that's not my ultimate peeve, because we've got some real special cases around here.



How about this one?  I walked in at around 9:30 a few weeks ago.  A co-worker walked up to me and said, "Oh my god, we've been waiting for you.  There's a weird smell in the kitchen."  What am I, the smell police? A truffle pig?  I have a special sense that the rest of them don't have?  Able to find weird smells in a single bound?   It turned out to be something icky in the garbage...what a shocker!



Fast forward to last Tuesday...had the day off on Monday, walk in in the morning.  A different co-worker - "We need a plumber, the urinal in the men's room blew up."  I ask when.........YESTERDAY MORNING is the answer.  They just taped some paper over it and waited for me.  It's so sad when they can't even go pee without you.



AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!



These people are helpless.  And lazy.  Thanks for the topic, Lioness.  I feel better already!

[msmarieh]

MY biggest pet peeve is that nasty phrase...



But we've always done it that way...



I DON'T CARE that you have always done it that way. Why did you choose to do it that way? Have you evaluated the circumstances to see if it warrants changing / streamlining?



I read a great quote this morning:



"If you find a good solution and become attached to it, the solution may become your next problem."

--Robert Anthony

 

[daisylee]

Do I have to choose just one?  There are just far too many...actually one for just about everyone you work with!  But if I have to name just one, it would be the dreaded:



The (name the piece of office equipment of your choice) isn't working, will you fix it? (Usually it's followed by the "compliment", I know you know how!) Now, I know I'm damned talented, but I am NOT a technician!  I call for service...but did you ever notice they NEVER tell you what's actually wrong, just that it isn't working?  (Hum, did we turn it on? No? Well, then I guess that does make me a technician!)



Along with being the office psychic and knowing where everyone is, what they're doing, and when they'll be done, this is the thing that gripes me most!  



Daisy (I'm busier than the Maytag repair man!)

[ccolleen413]

How about when bossie says "I want a mailing to go out by April 5.  I'll write the letter for you to type, DEC will write a description of our new service, you prepare the mailing list and get it all together."  Today is April 17, the mailing list is complete, the description was given to me today ....... still no letter.

[mathwhizchick]

Since we are on pet peeves, I just received this list of comeback we WISH we could say when these peeves happen (it probably should go on the humor site, but it does fit here).



 THINGS YOU'D LOVE TO SAY AT WORK, BUT CAN'T!

>

> 1. I can see your point, but I still think you're full of @#%$.

> 2. I don't know what your problem is, but I'll bet it's hard to pronounce.

> 3. How about never? Is never good for you?

> 4. I see you've set aside this special time to humiliate yourself in

> public.

> 5. I'm really easy to get along with once you people learn to worship me.

> 6. I'll try being nicer if you'll try being smarter.

> 7. I'm out of my mind, but feel free to leave a message...

> 8. I don't work here. I'm a consultant.

> 9. It sounds like English, but I can't understand a word you're saying.

> 10. Ahhh...I see the @#%$-up fairy has visited us again...

> 11. I like you. You remind me of when I was young and stupid.

> 12. You are validating my inherent mistrust of strangers.

> 13. I have plenty of talent and vision. I just don't give a damn.

> 14. I'm already visualising the duct tape over your mouth.

> 15. I will always cherish the initial misconceptions I had about you.

> 16. Thank you. We're all refreshed and challenged by your unique point of

> view.

> 17. The fact that no one understands you doesn't mean you're an artist.

> 18. Any connection between your reality and mine is purely coincidental.

> 19. What am I? Flypaper for freaks!?

> 20. I'm not being rude. You're just insignificant.

> 21. It's a thankless job, but I've got a lot of Karma to burn off.

> 22. Yes, I am an agent of Satan, but my duties are largely ceremonial.

> 23. And your cry-baby whiny-assed opinion would be...?

> 24. Do I look like a people person?

> 25. This isn't an office. It's Hell with fluorescent lighting.

> 26. I started out with nothing & still have most of it left.

> 27. Sarcasm is just one more service we offer.

> 28. If I throw a stick, will you leave?

> 29. Errors have been made. Others will be blamed.

> 30. Whatever kind of look you were going for, you missed.

> 31. I'm trying to imagine you with a personality.

> 32. A cubicle is just a padded cell without a door.

> 33. Can I trade this job for what's behind door #1?

> 34. Too many freaks, not enough circuses.

> 35. Nice perfume. Must you marinate in it?

> 36. Chaos, panic, & disorder - my work here is done.

> 37. How do I set a laser printer to stun?

> 38. I thought I wanted a career, turns out I just wanted paychecks



Enjoy!!

 

[Katie G]

Almost had an accident myself when I read about not being able to pee without you.  OMG!  



I HATE the talking-to-you-while-you're-on-the-phone-thing.  It's just as rude an interruption as if the person was standing at your desk instead of being on the phone.



I have a small desk area for a lot of paperwork, and I work very hard at keeping it organized.  I have an In-basket CLEARLY LABELED on my desk (And no, it's not a mess and not piled high.  I deal with stuff and get it out of there promptly).  So where do people put things when I'm not at my desk?  On top of my keyboard, on my chair, on top of the monitor, stuck under the phone, just tossed on the desk on top of whatever I'm working on, ANYWHERE but in the basket!



And where have all my pens gone again?  Is someone eating them around here?

[dedlered]

I absolutely hate it when they use my chair instead of my in box!! And I hate it when they try to talk to you when you are on the phone, or better yet, stand there and wait impatiently for you to get off the phone, tapping whatever and then.. it's no emergency, they just want you to do something that they could put in your inbox??



Go figure..